Acer griseum

Paper bark maple is in the soapberry or Sapindaceae family and is native to mountain woods in central and western China where it is endangered. It grows to about 15 m tall.

• Leaves are opposite, compound (trifoliate), composed of 3 elliptical leaflets, each with several blunt teeth on each side, deep green above, bluish white densely hairy beneath; center leaf is 10 cm long and 5 cm across. The foliage turns glowing scarlet-red late in autumn.
• Flowers are small, yellow-green on stocks, in drooping clusters.
• Fruit is typically a rounded samara up to 4 cm long, similar to sugar and Norway maples.
• The bark is the biggest ornamental feature of all. Its peeling glowing orange-red color and papery texture makes it stand out in the landscape every month of the year.